The Synology Drive Client is your primary sync access from Mac, Windows or Linux. Works like Dropbox: a local folder, changes sync in real time. Plus version history, on-demand sync, co-editing locks.
Download
synology.com/de-de/dsm/feature/drive → tab Synology Drive Client → pick your platform.
- macOS: DMG installer (Apple Silicon and Intel compatible)
- Windows: EXE installer (Win 10+)
- Linux: SPK / DEB / RPM packages (Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE tested)
Our recommendation: current stable version, not the beta.
First sign-in
After installation the client opens. First fields:
- QuickConnect ID or server address: enter the full URL, something like
https://drive.xaweho.de - Username and password of your DSM account
With 2FA enabled: you’ll be asked for the 2FA code — enter it from your authenticator app.
If everything checks out: the client asks for the sync configuration.
Choosing a sync mode
Three modes:
A) Full synchronization
All files from the server arrive locally. Advantage: offline access, fast. Downside: you need local space for the entire cloud.
Makes sense when the cloud content is small (<50 GB) or you deliberately want everything local.
B) On-demand sync (streaming)
Files appear locally as placeholders — they’re only downloaded on double-click. Like OneDrive Files On-Demand or iCloud’s “Optimize Mac Storage”.
Advantage: minimal local storage. Downside: internet required to open anything.
Natively supported on macOS and Windows (via the File Provider extension and the Cloud Files API respectively). Experimental on Linux.
C) Selective sync
You choose per top-level folder: full sync, on-demand, or not at all.
The most practical variant. The default in the initial setup.
Adjust any time: client → Account settings → Sync task.
Sync folder path
Defaults:
- macOS:
~/Synology Drive - Windows:
C:\Users\<username>\Synology Drive - Linux:
~/Synology Drive
Changeable during setup. Tip: don’t put it under ~/Documents (iCloud conflict) or OneDrive / Dropbox (sync conflict).
Syncing file operations
Once the sync folder is set up:
- Create a file locally → it gets uploaded
- A file arrives from the server (or another device) → it appears locally
- Delete a file locally → it’s moved to the Drive recycle bin on the server
- Rename a file → synced
Sync runs in the background, usually within seconds while the internet connection is up.
Conflict detection
When two devices change the same file in parallel:
- The Drive client creates a conflict file (
file (Conflict-2026-05-08).docx) - Both versions are kept
- You have to decide manually which one to keep
From our experience: happens rarely, because auto-save in Office and the Drive lock prevent most conflicts.
Bandwidth limits
Client → General → Traffic:
- Upload limit (in KB/s)
- Download limit
- Schedule (e.g. “unlimited at night, 1 MB/s during the day”)
Sensible on DSL connections, where a full upload chokes your entire line.
Version history
Right-click a file locally → Synology Drive → Previous versions.
A list of all versions with a restore function.
Identical to the browser variant in Synology Drive (Drive’s internal versioning).
Sharing straight from the client
Right-click a file locally → Synology Drive → Share.
A public link is generated and lands straight in your clipboard. With options for password, expiry, permission.
2FA and the Drive client
With 2FA enabled: the client asks for the 2FA code once at login, after that it keeps its own device session. You don’t have to enter the code for every sync.
If a device is lost: change your account password (DSM web → avatar → Personal) — after that all devices have to sign in again, and the lost one can’t get back in without the password and 2FA code. If you want to be certain: open a ticket, we terminate the device’s sessions server-side.
More in 2FA in DSM.
Multiple devices with the same account
As many as you like. Mac at the desk, notebook on the road, Linux server at home — all in parallel.
In the Drive browser under Computers you see all active sync devices.
Multiple accounts
In the Drive client: toolbar → Add account. You can, for example, run a private and a work storageDRIVE in parallel — each account is its own plan.
Each account syncs into its own local folder.
Pausing sync
Drive tray icon → Pause synchronization. Handy when you’re on a slow connection and don’t want large files uploading automatically.
Re-enable via the same menu item.
Pitfalls
File names with special characters
Mac and Windows handle special characters differently:
- Windows forbids
< > : " | ? * \ / - Mac tolerates more, except
/
If you create a file with ? on the Mac, it arrives on Windows as a conflict file.
Long paths on Windows
Windows default: 260 characters. Quickly hit with a deep folder structure in Drive.
Solution: enable long-path support in Windows (registry) or flatten your cloud structure.
macOS system files
.DS_Store and Icon\r get created everywhere by the Mac and end up in the cloud.
The default filter in the Drive client excludes them. If they show up anyway: check client → Filter settings.
Sync hangs
Symptom: the sync status sits at “Syncing…”.
First aid:
- Restart the Drive client
- Sign out and back in in the client (fresh session)
- If a large file is mid-upload: wait
For recurring problems: open a ticket with us.
Frequently asked questions
How much local storage is needed? With full sync: the same space as the cloud content. With on-demand: placeholders only (~a few MB). With selective: whatever you pick.
Does Drive work well on Linux? Yes, stable. The Linux client is official, but has less UI polish than Mac/Win. On-demand sync is experimental.
What file sizes does Drive support? Technically unlimited — we’ve successfully synced 100 GB files. With very large files, upload and version diffing take correspondingly long.
What if I’m offline? You keep working in the local sync folder. On the next online sync, your changes get uploaded.
Multi-user on one Mac — does that work? Each Mac user gets their own Drive client with their own login. One storageDRIVE plan is exactly one user account — if several people need their own logins, that means: a plan per person. If everyone should share the same storage, Nextcloud Hosting is the better choice (unlimited users, shared storage).
Why do I still see deleted files in the sync folder? Sync delay. They should be gone after 1-2 minutes. Otherwise: restart the Drive client.
What does the Drive client cost? Nothing. Synology provides it for free. You only need your storageDRIVE account.
Drive client and Time Machine — do they work in parallel? Time Machine backs up locally to an external disk. Drive syncs a local folder to the cloud. Both in parallel are no problem — Time Machine backs up the Drive folder too.
What’s next
First login to DSM
What you receive after ordering and how to log in to your storageDRIVE account for the first time.
Account and quota — how your storageDRIVE storage works
One plan, one user account, a fixed quota: what counts toward the quota, what happens when it's full, and how upgrades work.
File Station — the file manager in your browser
The classic file manager in DSM. Upload, download, creating folders, ZIP creation, previews, sharing links.
Mounting storageDRIVE as a drive (SMB)
How to connect your storageDRIVE via SMB as a drive — in the Mac Finder, Windows Explorer and as a mount on Linux. Step by step, including auto-mount and Time Machine.